Restorative efficiency: How these leading dentists save time without sacrificing quality of care

Think about the procedures you do every day in your dental practice. Picture that last bread-and-butter class II composite. I’d bet you were operating somewhat on autopilot. When we do common restorative dentistry, we enter into what psychologists call a “flow state”; we get in the zone. It comes with great experience and is a sign of mastery.

If there is one downside of being in the flow with restorative dentistry, it’s that we can get too accustomed to doing things the way we did them yesterday. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” right? Even if we get a little bored from time to time, we might be afraid of making changes to our routine that could compromise patient outcomes. So, we tend to stick with what we know.

But materials evolve. New techniques are discovered. It’s arguably a disservice to our patients if we perform dentistry the exact same way we did a decade ago, ignoring the efficiencies or improved outcomes that could be realized. Getting out of our comfort zone now and then is a good thing.

My favorite way to safely introduce new materials and techniques into my practice is to observe what the thought leaders in our profession are doing. I’ve invited some of the sharpest minds in restorative dentistry to share their favorite tips and tricks with us. These key opinion leaders are continually testing new approaches to even the simplest of procedures. They’ve shortened the learning curve and are sharing what works best in their hands. Join me as we look over their shoulders to see how they tackle everyday dentistry efficiently.

Pamela M. Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, FACP